Steam dirt-excavator.



PATENTED MAY l0, 1904.

B. R. SNIDER. STEAM DIRT EXCAVATOR.

APPLIGATION FILED AUG. 14. 1900.

No Monm.Ik

PATBNTED MAY 1o, 1904.

` B. P.. SNIDER. l STEAM DIRT EXUAVATOR.

AP'PLIGATION FILED AUG. 14, 1900.

I. 3 BHEETB-BHEET 2. N I

N0 MODEL.

No. 759,763. W PATENTED MAY 10, 1904.

' B. R. SNIDER.

STEAM DIRT EXUAVATOR.

APPLIUATIoNILBD AUG. 14, 1900.

No MODEL.

3 SHBETS-SHEBT 3.

QQN pi N Pneus co, novo-umn.. wAshmarqmu u Patented May 10, 1904.

PATENT OEEICE.

BENJAMAN REASON SNIDER, OF ABINGDON, IOWA.

STEAM DIRT-EXCAVATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 759,763, dated May 10, 1904.

Application filed Aug-1151,14, 1900. Serial No. 26,817. (No model.)

To /LZ/ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMAN REASON SNI- DER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Abingdon, in the county of Jefferson and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Steam Dirt-Excavator, of which the following' is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in excavating-machines; and the object is to provide an effectively-operating self-propelled machine of this class.

Another object is to provide means for insuring the forward movement of the machine in event of the slipping of the ground-wheels.

A further object is to provide improved means for adjusting the plow and holding the same in the ground.

A still further object is to provide an improved construction of elevator having means by which it may be raisedand lowered and provided with adjusting' means for the endless conveyer-belt.

With the above objects in view the invention consists in the novel features of construction hereinafter fully described, particularly pointed out in the claims, and clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in whichn Figure l is a side elevation looking at the machine on the side upon which the plow is positioned; Fig. 2, a top plan view; Fig. 3, a vertical transverse sectional View taken through the fuel-box and looking in the direction of the boiler, showing the mechanism for placing the chain in engagement with the chain-wheel; Fig. 4, a bottom plan view, the guide for the forward end of the plow being sectioned; Fig. 5, a View illustrating in elevation the pivoted arm carrying the wheel for placing the chain in engagement with the chain-wheel and the lever for operating the same, and Fig. 6 a perspective view of the adjusting device for the endless conveyor-belt. Fig. 7 is a perspective view illustrating the manner of supporting the end of the cablechain. Fig. 8 is a bottom plan View showing' the drum for winding the chain.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, A designates the body of themachine, supporting at its forward end the driving Inechanism, which is similar to that of a locomotive, consisting of a boiler B, cylinders O, located on opposite sides of the boiler, and a driving-shaft D, extending transversely of the body and in rear of the boiler, carrying at its respective ends fly-wheels E,With which the piston-rods of the pistons moving in said cylinders have an operative connection, such connection being well known in the art to which it appertains. y

In rear of the boiler the body supports a cab for the engineer, said cab not beingillustrated, and a water-box F and a fuel-box G.

An axle H is centrally pivoted to the under side of the body at the forward end thereof, and carries the small ground-wheels I. In rear of the axle a shaft J' is mounted, having on its end gear-wheel K. Oords or chains L are secured at one end to the axle on opposite sides of its pivotal point and at their opposite ends wound about said shaft. These cords are oppositely wound upon said shaft, so that the movement of the latter in opposite directions causes the axle to swing' either to the right or left. An upwardly and real'- wardly extending shaft M is supported at one side of the machine, said shaft having on its lower end a worm-gear N, meshing with the gear K, and at its opposite end is provided with a hand-wheel O, by means of which it may :be operated to steer the machine.

An axle P is mounted upon the under side of the body in rear of the boiler and carries at its respective ends the ground-wheels Q, said wheels being on the outside of the body. This axle carries also gears R on the outside of the body and chain or sprocket wheels S on the inside of the body. Pinions T` are mounted upon the outside of the body by means of short shafts and mesh with the gears R and with gears U, carried by the drivingshaft. Thus motive power is given to the ground-wheels and the machine propelled.

A shaft V is mounted on the under side of the body in rear of the axle l, and upon this shaft chain or sprocket wheels W are secured. Chains pass around these chain-wheels W and chain-Wheels S on the rear axle, so that motion is communicated to shaft V. Centrally mounted upon shaft V is a cable- IOO wheel Y, formed with projections or cogs to engage in the links of the cable-chain Z, extending from one end to the other of the cut in which the machine is operated. The ends of this chain Z are supported in the following manner: At each end of the cut a bar Zl is supported by chains Z2 at each end thereof, which are attached to posts in the ground. Movable on this bar is a hook carrying a pulley Z3, which runs on the bar as the hook is adjusted, and to this hook the chain Z is attached. This bar serves to anchor thecablechain and hold it in position and also to permit of the adjustment of the chain thereon as different furrows are cut.

The bottom wall of the fuel-box is provided with a door a directly above the chair -whecL so that access may be conveniently had to said wheel when desired.

Directly in rear of the cable-wheel is a small wheel Z, which is used for the purpose of placing and holding the chain in engagement with said cable-wheel. This wheel Z is mounted upon an arm c, pivoted at one end to a suitable support (Z. At the outer end of said arm is a guide-block e, having an inclined edge terminating at its upper end at the periphery of said wheel Z. This support is raised and lowered by a lever f, intermediately pivoted and having' its lower end pivotally connected with said arm by means of a link f', the point of connection of the bell-crank lever and lirk operating in a slot fZ. the lever at its Lipper end formed with a handle portion. For engaging the chain and placing it upon wheel Z1 provide a catch g, pivotally supported and operating in an opening cut in the floor of the fuel-box, the catchhaving a hook L at its lower end, the body portion of the catch having a longitudinally-extending slot Z, to which are connected the inclined laterally-extending' slots j. A pin Zt', carried by support CZ, projects into this slot. An angle-lever Z is pivoted to support CZ and is connected at one end with catch g intermediate the ends of the latter, the opposite end of said anglelever extending upwardly and constituting a handle.

In order to place the cable-chain in engagement with the cable-wheel, lever f is operated to swing arm c and wheel Z downwardly. Lever Z is then operated in one direction, causing the hook to move downwardly and outwardly by the engagement of the pin with the upper laterally-extending slot 7' of the catch g. A reverse movement of lever Z causes the catch 6 to move upwardlyT and inwardly toward the wheel Z by reason of the engagement of the pin with the longitudinal slot z' and the lower lateral slot j'. The catch by this upward and inward movement raises the chain and moves the same upwardly along the guide-block e to the periphery of the wheel Z. The-catch is then disengaged from the chain which engages the wheel Z, and said wheel Z is raised by lever f pressing the cable-chain into engagement with the under and rear portions of the periphery of the cable-wheel y. Should the ground-wheels slip, as they invariably do, especially in muddy ground, the cogs of the cable-wheel engage in the links of the chain, and said cable-wheel being rotated by the driving mechanism the machine is propelled forwardly, as will be readily understood.

Extending transversely beneath the machine at the rear end of the boiler is a shaft mf, having on one of its projecting ends a slotted arm n, in which slot the plow-beam 0 is pivotally supported at its rear end, said plow-beam carrying a plow p. Upon said shaft is a lever q, by means of which the plow may be held in the ground and adjusted by raising or lowering the rear end of the beam. Said lever is connected by a chain or cord 7' with a winding-shaft z5, mounted at one side of the boiler and provided with a handwheel. The forward end of the plow-beam projects through and moves in a slot it, formed in a plate o, dropped from the body, and said forward end of the beam is connected by a chain or cord w with a winding-shaft rv,

mounted at one side of the boiler and provided with the hand-wheel for rotating the same. By means of this shaft and the chain connecting it with the plow-beam the forward end of the beam may be raised or lowered to elevate or depress the plow-point. By pivoting the plow-beam at its rear end and supporting the same at its forward end by a flexible connection the plow may move upwardly when it comes in contact with a stone or other obstacle, so that the breaking or injuring thereof will be prevented. Y

Extending transversely beneath the body is an elevator, or conveyer frame 7 supported at its respective ends by rods 8, connected at one end with the body and at their opposite ends with the frame. This frame carries at oneV end a plate 9, located in close proximity to the plow, and rollers'lO, having their ends projecting through the frame and carrying sprocket-wheels ll. A swinging frame l2 is pivotally connected to frame 7 and is of similar construction. This swinging frame projects laterally from the body on the side opposite to the plow. Cords or chains 13 are connected at one end to the outer end of the swinging frame and at their opposite ends with a winding-shaft let, mounted upon the framework of the machine and provided with a handwheel. By operating this shaft and winding the cord or chains thereon or unwinding the same therefrom the swinging section of the elevator-frame may be raised or lowered. At the outer cnd of the swinging frame a sliding adjusting-frame l5 is provided, said adjustingframe carrying straps 16, which embrace the side bars of the conveyer-frame. For reciprocating the adjusting-frame upon the eleva- IOO IIO

tor-frame an intermediately-pivoted lever 17 is mounted upon the elevator-frame and pivotally connected at one end with an arm 18, projecting' from the adjusting-frame. This adjusting-frame carries at its forward end a roller 19, having on its projecting end a sprocket-wheel 20. An endless conveyer-belt 21 passes around the roller 19 and rollers 10, said conveyer-belt receiving the soil and conveying' the same to the carts or wag'ons,\vl1ich may be driven beneath the swinging' section ofthe elevator-frame. By operating' lever 17 the adjusting-frame may be moved upon the elevator-frame to tig'hten the conveyer-belt. The endless conveyer-belt is driven by a shaft 22, mounted at one end in the elevatorfframe and carrying a sijirocket-wheel 23. A chain 24 passes around the sprocket-wheels l1, 20, and 23. The opposite end of this shaft 22 carries a friction-gear 25, which engages one of the chain-wheels S and receives its motion therefrom.

26 designates a drum which is attached to the rear of the machine when it is desired to take up the cable-chain. Said drum is located in rear of the water-box, being' attached to the same by arms 27, which support the drumshaft 28,to which the drum is secured. Groundwheels 29 are loose on said shaft. Upon the shaft isa chain-wheel 30, around which a chain 31 passes, said chain passing around a sprocketwhcel on shaft V.

Having thus fully described my invention, what l claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. The combination with an excavator', of a beam secured thereto, a pivotally-supported bell-crank, one arm of the bell-crank connected with the beam and means secured to the remaining' arm of the bell-crank for raising' and lowering the beam and excavator.

2, The combination with an excavator, of a beam secured thereto, a pivotally-supported lever, one end of the lever connected with one end of the beam, means connected with the lever for raising and lowering' that end of the beam and excavator,a suitably-supported slotted guide, the opposite end of the beam projecting' through the guide and fiexible means connected with the projecting end whereby to raise and lower the remaining' end of the beam.

3. In an excavator, the combination with a shaft carrying an arm, of a plow-beam pivoted at its rear end to said arm, a lever for rocking said shaft, a slotted guide in which the forward end of the beam is movable vertically, a winding-shaft, and a flexible connection between the forward end of the beam and the shaft, substantially as described.

4:. In an excavator, the combination with a shaft carrying an arm, of a plow-beam pivoted to said arm at its rear end, a lever attached to said shaft, a winding-shaft, a flexible connec tion between said winding-shaft and said lcver, a second shaft and a flexible connection between said shaft and the forward end of the plow-beam, substantially as described.

5. In an excavator, the combination with a cable-chain, of a wheel carried by the excavator and running' on said chain, a pivoted arm, a wheel mounted on said arm and adapted to hold the chain in engagement with the chain-wheel, and a lever for raising and lowering said pivoted arm, substantially as described.

6. In an excavator, the combination with a cable-chain, of a chain-wheel carried by the excavator and running' upon said chain, a wheel for holding said chain in engagement with the chain-wheel, and means for engaging and disengag'ing said chain with the lastmentioned wheel, substantially as described.

7. In an excavator, the combination with a cable-chain, of a chain-wheel carried by the excavator and running upon said chain, a wheel for holding said chain in engagement with said chain-wheel, means for raising' and lowering said last-mentioned wheel, a lever formed with a hook for engag'ing said chain and with a slot having' lateral end branches, and a pin working in said slots, substantially as described.

8. In an excavator, the combination with an elevator-frame, having rollers journaled therein, an auxiliary frame movably received at one end of the elevator-franie, a roller jour` naled in the auxiliary frame, a rigid arm secured to the auxiliary frame and a pivotallysupported lever, one end of the lever engaging the rigid arm to actuate the auxiliary frame with respect to the elevator-frame.

9. In an excavator, an elevator-frame, the frame consisting of two members, a rotary shaft connected with the adjacent ends of the members and serving as a pivot therefor, shafts mounted at the ends of the elevatorframe, gears secured to the end shafts and to the hinge-shaft and means extending between the gears for actuating the shafts.

10. In an excavator, the combination with a cable-chain, of a wheel carried by the excavator a'nd adapted to engage the chain, a pivotally-supported wheel, a guide-block for guiding' the chain to the last-mentioned wheel and a lever for actuating the pivotally-supported Wheel.

11. In an excavator, the combination with a chain, of a sprocket mounted on the excavator and adapted to engage the chain, means for retaining the chain in engagement with the sprocket, a pivotally supported hook adapted to piel( up the chain, and a lever operatively connected with the hook for actuating the same.

12. In an excavator, the combination with a rotating' member, of a fiexible connection engaged by the rotating member, a traveling' IOO IIO

means secured to one end of the connection a rotating member, of a flexible connection and a track engaged by the traveling means engaged thereby, a pulley secured to one end to adjust the flexible connection. of the flexible Connection, a bar upon which 13. In an excavator, the combination With the pulley travels, stationary standards, and 5 a rotating member, ot' a flexible connection flexible means connecting the bar and Stand- 1.5

engaged thereby, a pulley secured to one end ards.

of the ieXible connection, a bar upon Which BENJ AMAN REASON S'NIDER. the pulley travels, stationary standards, the Vitnesses: bar supported by the standards. W. D. TISDALE,

IO 14. 1n an excavator, the combination with WM. MCMETT. 

